Simulated basketball game apparatus



S p 1950 P. GLlCl (MAN 2,522,782

SIMULATED BASKETBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1946 SShets-Sheet 1 PHILIP Gx.zcxnm I V Sept. 19, 1950 P. GLICKMAN 2,522,782

SIMULATED BASKETBALL GAME APPARATUS Fil'ed June 25, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 19, 1950 P. GLICKMAN SIMULATED BASKETBALL GAME APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25; 1946 INVENTOR PHILIP GLICKMAN/ W" Patented Sept. 19, 1950 OFFICE SIMULATED BASKETBALL GAME I APPARATUS Philip Gunman, Marinas. Y. Application June 25, 1946,SerialNo. 679,193

I I I 1 This invention relates in general to a game and in particulartoa parlorbasketball game or the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a compact and convenient game simulating in rules and general procedure'aconventional basketball game and adapted for use as a parlor game or thelike. W I W I 'It is a further object of the invention to provide a parlor basketball game comprising a board pivotally mounted within a frame to resemble a basketball court, having simulated baskets mounted overtheboardat the ends thereof and having means for causing and directing motion of a ball along the surface of the boardand into the baskets. I

I "For further comprehension of'the invention,

' and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are-more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a ma terial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is :a perspective view of game constructed according to the present invention. I I I I Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. l. a I

Fig. 3 isa longitudinal"vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line s-+3 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. l is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along the line i- I of Fig; 3. I. I

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the game with the playing board removed therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional I view taken along the line F5-5 OfFigIE.

Fig.7 is a perspective viewiof a shooting means according to a modification of the presentinvention. I

Fig. Bis a perspective viewof a player, according to the present invention. i I

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of. a-portion of the base of the player shown in Fig. 8.i Fig. 10fis a fragmentarylperspective view,par-

'tially in section, of the contro-llin'gme'ans.

on the upper surface of the board II. Handles I5 are provided for controlling pivotingof the I a basketball '4 Claims. (crews-s5) board I I for causing a ball I6 to roll over the top ends of the pegs I4. Knobs I1 are provided for operating shooting means I8, whereby the ball I8 may be caused to be shot into one of two baskets I9 mounted at either end of the playing board I I and positioned above the surface of the board.

' The framel3 is of box-like configuration of suitable size for use as a parlor game, the size being generally a matter of personal choice or of convenience of manufacturing operations. The playing board II is mounted near the top of the frame butslightly below the top, so that the walls of the frame I3 rise above the surface of the board II to form a boundary or guard 2| therearound.

The board I I is a substantially flat member, slightly smaller in area than the inside area of the frame I3, whereby the board II is mountable substantially loosely therein. The board II rests substantially at its center on the support I2 which is, in turn mounted on a post 22 secured to thebottom wall of the frame I3.

This support I2 may be a small ball bearing or the like, mounted on the upper end of post 22. Additionally, the board I I rests on four resilient members or springs 23, one near each corner of the board, whereby in the normal or rest position of the game, the board is supported substantia ly horizontally or parallel with the bottom wall of frame I3 and is adapted to tend to resume this parallel position in the absence of a control-ling 'force appliedthereto through the handles I5.

' At either end "of the playing board III one of the baskets I9 i mounted above the surface of the board on support members 24. The height of these baskets will be in proportion to the size and area of the playing board, to simulate the height of a basket above a conventional basketball court. Slightly in front of and underneath each of thebaskets I9 there is located one of the shooting means I8 which, is adapted to shoot baskets for scoring in the game.

The ball I B rests on the top ends of the pegs I'lof theboard I I, and isadapted to travelacross the topends of the pegs I4 when propelled by the player-. orplayers 30. Players 30 are adapted to roll along the surface of the board between the pegs I4, as the board is tipped from the horizontalso that'the pegs I4 guide the movement of the player 30 over the top face of the board II whereby the player 30 in rolling tends to corn tact one or more of these pegs I l and to be defiected in its movement. The proper use of these pegsmm the avoidance of the pegs obviously aifords an opportunity for the effective use of a high degree of skill in playing the game.

The shooting means l8 comprises a pair of cups 25, one mounted near each end of the board I! on springs 26 or the like to direct the ball upward from the board toward the baskets l9. One form of controlling device for the shooting means l8 comprises a cord 21' or the like having an intermediate portion passing around a pulley 28 and being secured at one end to the mounting spring 23 and having its other end secured to one of the knobs II. In the normal position, knob ll rests against the side of frame 13, and cup 25 is substantially flush with the surface of the board II; when knob I! is pulled away from the frame l3, cup 25 is depressed against the urging upward when the knob is released.

Numerous changes and variations are possible in the arrangement of the parts to this invention. For example, in one simple form of the invention there may be employed the simple spring mountings 26 for the cups 25, as shown in Fig. 5, wherein the cups 25 are supported springably directly by their spring mountings. According to another form of the invention, as shown in Fig. '7, spring 23 may be replaced by a coil spring 26 or the like.

Similarly, according to one form of the invention, the pegs l4 may be mounted on the board I I according to a regular pattern, or alternatively, these pins may be irregularly arranged on the board. Additionally, according to one form of the invention, pegs M are spaced apart by a distance greater than the diameter of the ball I6, whereas according to another form of the invention the pegs may be closer together than the diameter of the ball. In either of these cases, and particularly in the latter, at least one and preferably several players or men 38 may be movably positioned on the board ll. Since the pins are closer together than the diameter. of ball 16, it will be obvious that an external push will generally be necessary, in addition to the slight tilt of the board, to cause ball [6 to move from the pocket formed by one set of pegs into another pocket; the men 30 serve the purpose of supplying this push, by colliding with the ball and urging it into motion.

The use and operation of the game according to Figs. 1 to 6 is readily apparent from the figures and from the foregoing description. The ball is placed on the board at a desired position,'for example in the center of the board, and bymoving handles it, the motion of the ball l6 and men 30 is controlled. In the preferred use of the game, there are two opponents, each one controlling one handle 15; if desired, other methods of. using the game may be devised. In any event, the motion of the ball is controlled until the ball sinks into one of the cups 25, whereupon the corresponding knob II is properly and skillfully pulled and released.

If the proper skill is used, the ball is projected into basket [9, thus scoring for the correct player. The manual control of handles IS, with the additional effect of pegs l4 and men 30, causes this to become a game requiring a high degree of skill for its successful operation.

In Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown a man or player 36 adapted to be used in connection with the game as shown in the previous figures. The man 33 comprises a molded body 3| or the like, adapted to simulate in appearance a toy basketball player, mounted on a base 3|. The base 3l is shaped andconstructed to fit between and pass easily between the pegs M on the board II. The body and base of man 30 are mounted on a triangular frame 32, shown in Fig. 9, by means of a rod 33 or the like secured to or integrally formed with the base and having three arm members 34 extending radially therefrom. At the end of each arm 34 is a small wheel 35, on which the man 30 is adapted to roll as the board II is tilted. Preferably the man 30 has arms 36 stretched before him to simulate a player handling a ball in a basketball game, the arms 36 being stretched at a level to meet ball I6 as it rests on the tops of the egs Id.

In Figs. 10 and 11, there is shown the mecha- 'nism for controlling the level of board II. The board rests on the pivot point l2, with supporting springs (refer to previous figures) at the corners. Each control handle I5 is mounted at the end of an axle 31, passing through frame 13, the other end of axle 3! being mounted in a stud 38 mounted within the frame to the bottom thereof.

A spool 3'! is mounted on the axle 31 to rotate therewith, and a cord 39 or the like passes once or more around the spool 37 and has its ends secured to eyes 40 mounted on the underside of board ll, one on either side of the handle l5. When handle I5 is rotated, spool 3'! is rotated, causing cord 39 to tip the board II in one direction or the other. One of these control mechanisms is mounted on either side of frame l3, whereby dual control of the tilt of board II is provided.

The game according to this invention has been particularly described and disclosed in connection with a basketball game; however, it is to be understood that the game may also be adapted to simulate other athletic contests such as football, hockey, baseball, and the like. The features of design required to convert the board or playing field ll into a field simulating any one of those other games will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and accordingly such variations and modifications will be within the scope of this invention. For example, a football field may be simulated on the upper surface of the board, with goals laced at the ends of the field. The use and operation of the game for simulation of other athletic contests will be essentially the same as described herein, with the men 30 and the ball I6 being controlled in their motion by the tilting of the board, and with the score in the game being made by properly propelling the ball to a selected area.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a basket ball game, a frame open across its top, a pivot point located within said frame at the center thereof, a board mounted across the open top of said frame and pivotally resting on said pivot point, a plurality of springs yieldingly supporting said board in a substantially horizontal position, a plurality of vertical pegs mounted on the top face of said board for having a ball rested on the top ends thereof, a member movably rested on said board to roll between said pegs as said board is pivoted, and dual means to be operated in opposition by two competing players for pivoting said board against the action of said springs, said board being formed adjacent its ends with holes, and means mounted within said frame and operable through said holes for shooting a ball vertically upwards.

2. In a basket ball game, a frame open across its top, a pivot point located within said frame at the center thereof, a board mounted across the open top of said frame and pivotally resting on said pivot point, a plurality of springs yieldingly supporting said board in a substantially horizontal position, a plurality of vertical pegs mounted on the top face of said board for having a ball opposite sides of said axles, and cords having their intermediate portions wound once about said spools and their ends secured to said eyes, whereby when said axles are turned in one direction or the other said cords will be pulled pivoting said board.

3. In a basket ball game, a frame open across its top, a pivot point located within said frame at the center thereof, a board mounted across the open top of said frame and pivotally resting on said pivot point, a plurality of springs yieldingly supporting said board in a substantially horizontal position, a plurality of vertical pegs mounted on the top face of said board for having a ball rested on the top ends thereof, a member movably rested on said board to roll between said pegs as said board is pivoted, and dual means to be operated in opposition by two competing players for pivoting said board against the action of said springs, said dual means comprising an axle rotatively supported beneath opposed sides of said board, a spool mounted on each of said axles, eyes mounted on the bottom face of said board on opposite sides of said axles, and cords having their intermediate portions wound once about said spools and their ends secured to said eyes, whereby when said axles are turned in one direction or the other said cords will be pulled pivoting said board, and handles mounted on the outer ends of said axles by which they may be conveniently manually turned. 1

4. In a basket ball game, a frame open across its top, a pivot point located within said frame at the center thereof, a board mounted across the open top of said frame and pivotally resting on said pivot point, a plurality of springs yieldingly supporting said board in a substantially horizontal position, a plurality of vertical pegs mounted on the top face of said board for having a ball rested on the top ends thereof, a member movably rested on said board to roll between said pegs as said board is pivoted, and dual means to be operated in opposition by two competing players for pivoting said board against the action of said springs, said board being formed adjacent its ends with holes, and means mounted within said frame and operable through said holes for shooting a ball vertically upwards, said shooting means comprising springs having one of their ends secured to said frame and the other of their ends projected into said holes, cups mounted on the other ends of said springs within said holes for having the ball rested therein, and means for flexing said springs and releasing them for shooting the ball upwards and out of said cups.

PHILIP GLICKMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 449,708 Shepard Apr. 7, 1891 797,105 Graves Aug. 15, 1905 1,116,593 Johnson Nov. 10, 1914 1,527,876 Janik Feb. 24, 1925 1,572,069 Kline Feb. 9, 1926 1,608,721 Clark Nov. 30, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 130,994 Germany May 23, 1902 763,744 France May 5, 1934 

